Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Investigation of Abundance and Spatial Distribution of Marine Debris on Ghanaian Urban Coastal Beaches

Marine debris abundance and spatial distribution were comprehensively assessed on three urban coastal beaches in Ghana along the Gulf of Guinea. The study characterized debris types and distribution patterns, documenting significant plastic accumulation with implications for coastal ecosystem health, public safety, and eco-tourism.

2024 Journal of Environmental Geography 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Solid Waste Management in Coastal Ghana

This paper assessed solid waste management challenges in coastal communities of Ghana, finding that inadequate infrastructure leads to plastics and other waste being dumped directly into coastal waters or on beaches. The study highlights how waste management failures in developing coastal regions directly drive marine plastic pollution.

2018
Article Tier 2

The Health-trash Nexus in Challenging Environments: A Spatial Mixed Methods Analysis of Accra, Ghana

This mixed-methods study in Accra, Ghana analyzed the spatial relationship between waste disposal practices and health outcomes in a rapidly urbanizing city. Open dumping and poor waste management create conditions where microplastics and other contaminants accumulate near communities, with direct public health consequences.

2021 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The Coastal Environment of Elmina in Ghana - Appraising the Causes and Effects of Coastal Pollution

This study examined coastal pollution in Elmina, Ghana, one of the country's major tourist destinations, finding that marine debris including plastic waste has severely degraded the coastline and reduced its appeal for tourism. The research highlights how inadequate waste management in developing coastal communities creates environmental and economic harm.

2018 Annals of Geographical Studies 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic contamination levels in ghana's mangrove wetlands

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination levels in Ghana's mangrove wetlands, examining how the morphology of mangrove root systems traps and accumulates plastic particles of all sizes and assessing the threat posed to these ecologically critical coastal ecosystems.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic contamination levels in ghana's mangrove wetlands

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination levels in mangrove wetlands in Ghana, examining how mangrove tree morphology facilitates plastic accumulation and what concentrations and polymer types are present in these coastal ecosystems. The study addressed threats to mangrove ecological services including water quality improvement, carbon sequestration, and coastline protection posed by plastic pollution.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Ghana: An in-depth review of research, environmental threats, sources, and impacts on ecosystems and human health

This review examines the state of microplastic research in Ghana, finding that contamination is widespread across coastal areas, rivers, lakes, and forests. Most studies have focused on coastal environments, leaving significant knowledge gaps about inland pollution and its effects on the communities that depend on these ecosystems. The review calls for systematic policy frameworks and more targeted research to protect both ecosystems and human health in Ghana.

2024 Heliyon 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Numerical Modelling of Plastic Debris Transport and Accumulation throughout Portuguese Coast

Researchers applied numerical modelling to simulate the transport and accumulation of plastic debris along the Portuguese coast, assessing how ocean currents drive microplastic dispersal and deposition patterns in this Atlantic coastal region. The study contributes spatial predictions of plastic accumulation hotspots to inform monitoring and management strategies.

2020 Journal of Coastal Research 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying Plastic Waste and Microplastic Contamination in African Aquatic Systems: An Imperative for Sustainable Waste Management

This review assessed the scale of plastic waste and microplastic contamination in African aquatic systems, finding that inadequate waste management infrastructure amplifies plastic pollution in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters across the continent.

2023 Acadlore Transactions on Geosciences 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine Litter Sources and Distribution Pathways

This book chapter reviews the sources and distribution pathways of marine litter in African coastal environments, highlighting gaps in research and the need for targeted policies to address plastic pollution along African coastlines.

2022 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine plastic pollution in West Africa – the case of Ivory Coast

Researchers documented marine plastic pollution in Ivory Coast, West Africa, measuring plastic inputs, concentrations in coastal environments, and characterizing polymer types. With annual per capita plastic consumption of 19-26 kg and poor waste management infrastructure, the country faces rapidly growing plastic pollution pressure with inadequate monitoring in place.

2025
Article Tier 2

Characterisation of Macro-plastic Waste Along the Philippines' Longest Coastal Boulevard: Basis for Solid Waste Management and Policy Formulation

Researchers characterized macro-plastic waste types and quantities along the Philippines' longest coastal boulevard, using density and cleanliness metrics as a basis for solid waste management and policy formulation. The study identified dominant plastic categories and spatial distribution patterns, providing empirical data to inform targeted waste management interventions and coastal protection policies.

2024 Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment
Article Tier 2

Innovative Use of Plastic for a Clean and Sustainable Environmental Management: Learning Cases from Ghana, Africa

This paper documents innovative approaches in Ghana where plastic waste is creatively converted into artifacts and pavement blocks rather than being discarded. The study suggests that these community-driven recycling initiatives help reduce plastic waste volumes, address urban drainage problems, and offer scalable learning cases for environmental sustainability in developing countries.

2021 Urban Science 79 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization and Spatial Abundance of Microplastics in the Coastal Regions of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh: An Integration of Field, Laboratory, and GIS Techniques

This large-scale field and GIS study characterized microplastics in coastal sediments of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, finding high concentrations linked to tourism pressure, inadequate waste management, and the proximity of rivers carrying inland plastic waste.

2021 Soil and Sediment Contamination An International Journal 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Urban Plastic Waste in Pahang, Malaysia

Researchers assessed the environmental impact of urban plastic waste in Pahang, Malaysia, surveying plastic accumulation in waterways, land, and coastal areas and estimating pollution loads from different urban sources.

2024
Article Tier 2

Quantitative Analysis of the Sized Ranged Plastic Debris on Beach Shoreline along the Limbe Coastline, Cameroon

Researchers quantitatively assessed the abundance and distribution of plastic debris across four size classes on five sandy beaches in Cameroon, collecting 12,822 particles over 80 sampling quadrants and characterizing accumulation patterns along the coastline.

2023 Journal of Environmental Protection 5 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of plastic debris in the South American Atlantic Ocean coast – Distribution, characteristics, policies and legal aspects

Researchers compiled and reviewed studies on plastic debris along the entire South American Atlantic coast, covering distribution patterns, types of plastic, and existing policies. They found that macroplastic items like packaging and cigarette butts dominate beach litter, while microplastic contamination is widespread in water and sediment across the region. The review highlights significant gaps in research coverage and inconsistencies in national regulations that hinder effective plastic pollution management.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Macro impacts of plastic pollution in Ghana

Researchers applied qualitative system dynamics causal modelling to assess the macro-level impacts of plastic pollution in Ghana and West Africa, constructing a hierarchical framework linking high-level and low-level pollution effects across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The systems thinking approach aims to inform effective policy development for preventing and mitigating plastic pollution in the region.

2024 Cambridge Prisms Plastics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding the socioeconomic determinants of marine plastic pollution: Evaluating policy effectiveness and mitigation strategies in the Global South.

Researchers synthesized qualitative and quantitative evidence on marine plastic pollution in the Global South, identifying rapid urbanization, inadequate waste infrastructure, and weak governance as primary drivers, and recommending integrated strategies combining single-use plastic bans, extended producer responsibility, regional cooperation, and circular economy incentives.

2026 Marine pollution bulletin
Article Tier 2

Citizen Observation of Plastic Pollution in African Coastal Ecosystems to Address Data Gaps in Marine Litter Distribution

Researchers engaged citizen science networks in West Africa to collect data on plastic pollution in coastal ecosystems, addressing major gaps in marine litter distribution data for the region. Community-collected observations documented high plastic loads in Nigerian, Ghanaian, and Senegalese coastal sites, demonstrating that citizen science can effectively fill monitoring gaps in data-scarce regions.

2025
Article Tier 2

Pollution fingerprinting of two southwestern estuaries in Ghana

Researchers assessed pollution in two Ghanaian estuaries and found microplastic contamination alongside elevated levels of nitrate, phosphorus, and metals in sediments, with fragments being the most common microplastic type across both sites.

2022 Heliyon 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in African ecosystems: Current knowledge, abundance, associated contaminants, techniques, and research needs

This review synthesized current knowledge on microplastic abundance, associated contaminants, and ecological effects in African ecosystems, a region that ranks among the highest in mismanaged plastic waste. Despite the scale of the problem, the review found insufficient environmental monitoring data from Africa, calling for continent-specific research to support accurate global risk assessments.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 189 citations
Article Tier 2

Proximity to coast and major rivers influence the density of floating microplastics and other litter in east African coastal waters

Using neuston net and bulk water sampling off the east African coast, this study found that proximity to coast and major rivers strongly predicted floating microplastic and litter density, with concentrations far exceeding open ocean background levels near populated coastal zones.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Using Factor Analysis to Understand the Influence of Individual Perception on Plastic Waste Disposal

Researchers used factor analysis to identify the key influences on plastic waste disposal behavior among 360 randomly selected residents in three districts of Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. The most influential factors were inadequate municipal waste collection and lack of education (factor loadings of 0.84 and 0.82), followed by perceptions of plastic durability, distance to disposal infrastructure, and weak regulatory enforcement.

2022 Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues (IJSEI) 2 citations